Panel bender

ABSTRACT

A panel bender which can remarkably improve productivity in a bending process, and can feed in and out works having different widths with a single conveyer without causing interference between a main body and the conveyer has a construction in which a plurality of main bodies (1) are provided at opposite positions across a conveyer (16) for feeding the work (A) to a working position within the panel bender, each of the main bodies being movable in a back and forth direction with respect to the other by a back and force feeding device (13). The conveyer (16) disposed between the main bodies is adapted to expand and contract in the width direction in cooperation with back and forth movement of the main bodies.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates a panel bender for fixing a work to bebent at a working position and performing a process on the work byshifting a main body of a bender to the working position.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a panel bender for performing a bending process for aplate form work has been known, as disclosed in Japanese Examined PatentPublication (Kokoku) No. 61-103625.

The above-mentioned panel bender is designed to feed a work, which istransported in front of a main body of a bender, toward the main body ofthe bender by means of a pusher mechanism. The main body of the benderis fixed on a floor.

In the conventional panel bender, a bending process is performed for oneportion at one process step. Therefore, when the bending process isperformed for a plurality of portions of one work, it becomes necessaryto position the work for each completion of the bending process. Thisresults in a long period required for bending a single piece of the workand thus in low productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing situation.Therefore, it is an object to provide a panel bender which canremarkably improve productivity in a bending process and can performfeeding in and out of works to be bent and having different widths, witha single conveyer.

In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, there is provided,according to the present invention, a panel bender for bending a workheld between a depression die vertically moved by means of a pluralityof work holding cylinders fixed in alignment with regular intervals onthe upper portion of a main body of the device, and a receiving dieprovided at the lower portion of the main body and fixed on a bed of themain body, with a downward bending die and an upward bending dieprovided on a pivotal arm pivoted about a support shaft by a verticalbending driving device, which is characterized in that a plurality ofmain bodies are provided at opposite positions across a conveyer forfeeding the work to a working position within the panel bender, each ofthe main bodies being movable in a back and forth direction with respectto the other by a back and force feeding device, and the conveyerdisposed between the main bodies being adapted to expand and contract inthe width direction in cooperation with bask and forth movement of themain bodies.

The above-mentioned and other objects, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from thefollowing illustration and discussion associated with the accompanyingdrawings illustrating the preferred embodiment consistent with theprinciple of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an overall constructionof one embodiment of a main body;

FIG. 2 is a section showing the construction around a work holding andreleasing device;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-out section showing the construction around avertical being drive device;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section showing a gap adjusting device;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the vertical bending drive device;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are a plan view and a front elevation showing anarrangement of a conveyer;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are a plan view and a side elevation showing theconveyer;

FIG. 11 is a section taken along line X--X of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are a partially sectioned side elevation and an enlargedsection showing a back gauge device;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevation showing a stopper device; and

FIG. 15 is an explanatory illustration for showing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of the present invention will be discussed in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a panelbender, in which a plurality of work holding cylinders 2 are mounted ona C frame 1a with equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of a bed1b. A vertically movable member 3 is mounted on the tip ends of pistonrods 2a downwardly extending from the work holding cylinders 2. Adepression die 4 is attached below the vertically movable member 3.Beneath the depression die 4, a receiving die 5 is provided, whichreceiving die is fixed to the bed 1b of the main body of the panelbender. The depression die 4 and the receiving die 5 grip therebetween awork A (see FIG. 25) to be bent at a bending position.

On the other hand, the reference numeral 6 denotes a work holdingreleasing device which restricts upward movement of the verticallymovable member 3 to facilitate re-positioning of the work A. Thereference numeral 7 denotes a pivotal arm having base ends supported ona slider 8a of a gap adjusting device 8 via support shaft 8b. Thereference numeral 9 denotes a vertical bending drive device forvertically moving the tip end side of the pivotal arm 7 about thesupport shaft 8b.

The work holding releasing device 6 and a plurality of engaging pins 6aare provided above the vertically movable member 3, as best seen in FIG.2. Each engaging pin 6a is projected rearwardly and has a taperedsurface 6b. The tapered surface 6b is engageable with a stopper pin 6cprovided at a rear position of the engaging pin 6a.

The above-mentioned stopper pin 6c is supported for free movement in theback and forth direction of the main body, and is formed with a taperedsurface 6d contacting with the tapered surface 6b of the above-mentionedengaging pin 6a, at the tip end thereof. An actuation cylinder 6e isconnected to the rear end of the stopper pin 6c so that the stopper pin76c is shifted toward and away from the engaging pin 6a.

On the other hand, the tip end side of the above-mentioned pivotal arm 7is bifurcated in a vertical direction (FIG. 3). An upper branched leg 7aof the pivotal arm carries a downwardly bending die 10 which is soconstructed as to have a downwardly tapered tip end. A lower branchedleg 7b carries an upwardly bending die 11 which has an upwardly taperedtip end. The work A is bent at a desired angle between the downwardlybending die 10 or upwardly being die 11 and the above-mentioneddepression die 4 and the receiving die 5.

The above-mentioned gap adjusting device 8 has a slider 8a which ismovable in the back and forth direction as guided by a guide rail 8cextending in the back and forth direction of the main body, and isprovided at both sides of the main body 1. With the support shafts 8bextending from these sliders 8a, the base ends of the pivotal arms 7 aresupported as shown in FIG. 3.

Each of the above-mentioned sliders 8a is biased rearwardly by means ofa biasing means 8d provided at the front side. An inclined surface 8e isformed at the rear portion of each slider 8a, which inclined surface 8eis adapted to contact with a wedge member 8f (FIG. 5).

Each wedge member 8f is supported for free movement in the lateraldirection relative to the main body 1. One end of a ball screw shaft 8gwith a reverse thread is threadingly engaged to the wedge member 8f.

The other end of each ball screw shaft 8g is connected to the other ballscrew shaft via a joint 8h. On the other hand, the ball screw shaft 8gis cooperated with a drive motor 8i through an endless belt 8j so thatthe ball screw shafts 8g are driven simultaneously by the drive motor 8ito move each of the wedge members 8f toward and away from each other.

On the other hand, as seen in FIG. 6, the above-mentioned verticalbending driving device 9 includes two sets of screw jacks 9a on theupper portion of the main body 1 in a laterally spaced relationship. Theupper portion of the pivotal arm 7 is pivotally connected to the lowerends of drive shafts 9b extending downwardly from the screw jacks 9a.

The input shafts 9c of the screw jacks 9a are respectively connected toa reduction gear unit 9d provided between the screw jacks 9a. The inputshaft 9f of the reduction gear unit 9d is connected to a verticaldriving motor 9g. BY this vertical driving motor 9g, the tip end of thepivotal arm 7 is moved vertically about the support shaft 8b via thescrew jack 9a.

On the other hand, the main body 1 is mounted on guide rails 12aprojected on the upper surface of a slide base 12 for sliding movementalong the guide rails 12a. A back and forth driving motor 13a of a backand forth driving device 13 is provided at the rear portion of the slidebase 12 (FIG. 7).

The back and forth drive motor 13a is connected to a feed screw shaft13b so that it may drive this feed screw shaft 13b. The feed screw shaft13b threadingly engages with a nut member 13c provided at the bottom ofthe main body 1 to drive the main body 1 in a back and forth directionby the rotation of the feed screw shaft 13b.

At the front side of the main body 1, a conveyer 16 for feeding in thework A to be bent and a work clamping device 15 are respectivelyprovided. Also, a back gauge 17 is provided in the main body 1 tocontact with the end of the work A and determine the bending position.

As shown in FIG. 7, the above-mentioned conveyer 16 is arranged to aposition between two main bodies 1 which are provided in opposition toeach other. The conveyer 16 has a base frame 16a fixed on the slide base12 (see FIG. 10).

The base frame 16a has two rotary shafts 16b and 16c provided on upperportions at both ends, which rotary shafts 16b and 16c extend in aparallel relationship to each other. A plurality of pulleys 16d aremounted on these rotary shafts 16b and 16c.

The pulleys 16d positioned at the central portions of the rotary shafts16b and 16c are rigidly secured to the rotary shafts 16b and 16c.Between these pulleys 16d, a plurality of endless transporting belts 16eare extended.

The transporting belts 16e are also wrapped on a driving pulleys 16fwhich are driven by a not shown driving motor so as to be driven by thedriving pulleys 16f. Frames 16g provided at both sides of the conveyer16 are fixed to the main body 1 so that the transporting belts 16e maymove in the moving direction of the main body 1 when the main body 1 ismoved to vary the distance between the transporting belts 16e.

It should be noted that FIG. 9 shows the position where the distancesbetween the transporting belts 16e are reduced to be minimum.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the above-mentioned backgauge device 17 includes a back gauge 17b threadingly engaged to the tipend of a rod 17a which is supported for free horizontal movement.

The above-mentioned rod 17a has a base end extended toward a movablebase 17c to oppose with a touch sensor 17e provided on the movable base17c for free movement in the lateral direction.

The above-mentioned movable base 17c is supported for free movement inthe back and forth direction of the main body 1. The nut member 17fprovided on the lower portion is engaged to a ball screw shaft 17h whichis driven by a back gauge driving motor 17g to rotate. Therefore, theback gauge 17b can be adjusted the position in the back and forthdirection of the main body by the pack gauge driving motor 17g.

On the other hand, in the drawings, the reference numeral 20 denotes astopper device for positioning the work A introduced by the conveyer 16,in the transporting direction B. The stopper device 20 includes aplurality of, e.g. three stopper cylinders 20a provided in parallelrelationship relative to each other in the work transporting directionB.

Piston rods 20b upwardly extending from these stopper cylinders 20amount respective stoppers 20c, as shown in FIG. 14 so that in case ofthe work A with a small width, the stopper 20c at closest positionrelative to the transporting direction is projected to the positionhigher than the upper surface of the transporting belt 16e by thestopper cylinder, and in case of the work A with a large width, thestopper 20c at the farthest position relative to the transportingdirection is projected by the stopper cylinder 20c for stopping andpositioning the work A.

Next, operation will be discussed. The work A to be bent is transportedby the conveyer from the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG. 1, andstopped at a working position by one of a plurality of stoppers 20c ofthe stopper device 20.

Once the work A is stopped at the working position, a movable clamp 15bof the work clamping device 15 is lowered by a clamping cylinder 15a.Then, the work A is secured between a stationary clamp 15c which isdisposed between the transporting belts 16e and the above-mentionedmovable clamp 15b (see FIG. 8).

Subsequently, the feed screw shaft 13b of the back and forth drivingmotor 13a of the back and forth driving device 13 to drive the main body1 toward the work A. It should be noted when the work A is to be bent attwo portions simultaneously, the other main body provided at theopposing position is simultaneously driven toward the work A. When theback gauge 17b of the back gauge device 17 comes to contact with the endof the work A for initiating actuation. Then, the main body 1 is stoppedat this position. By this, positioning of the bending position iscompleted.

Once the positioning of the bending position is completed, thevertically movable member 3 is driven downwardly by the work holdingcylinder 2 so that the work A is held between the depression die 4mounted on the vertically movable member 3 and the receiving die 5.

When the work A is to be bent upwardly at this position, the pivotal arm7 is driven for upward pivotal movement about the support shaft 8 by thevertical bending driving device 9. The end portion of the work A heldbetween the depression die 4 and the receiving die 5 is pushed upwardlyby the upward bending die 11 mounted on the pivotal arm 7 for performingupward bending.

It should be noted that FIG. 15 shows the trace of the upward bendingdie 11 upon upward bending.

On the other hand, at this time, by adjusting the magnitude of upwardmovement of the pivotal arm 11, the bending angle can be freelyadjusted.

As discussed in detail, the present invention provides the bender mainbodies in opposition across the conveyer for feeding in the work, and isdesigned to perform a bending process at a plurality of positions byshifting the bender main bodies toward the work which is transported toand fixed at the working position. Therefore, the present invention cansignificantly improve the productivity in comparison with theconventional panel bender which performs bending for a plurality ofpositions by repositioning the work at every time of finishing a bendingstroke for one position.

In addition, the width of the conveyer provided between the main bodiescan be expanded and contracted according to the movement of the bendermain bodies in a toward and an aft direction, interference between themain bodies and the conveyer will never been caused. By this, differentwidth of works can be fed in and out by a single conveyer to provideeconomical merit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A panel bender for bending a work held between adepression die vertically moved by means of a plurality of work holdingcylinders fixed in alignment within regular intervals on the upperportion of a main body of the panel bender, and a receiving die providedat the lower portion of the main body and fixed on a bed of the mainbody, with a downward bending die and an upward bending die provided ona pivotal arm pivoted about a support shaft by a vertical bendingdriving device provided on said main body for bending said workdownwardly and upwardly, wherein a plurality of such main bodies areprovided at opposite sides of a conveyer for feeding said work to aworking position within the panel bender and aligned to each other in adirection substantially perpendicular to a transporting direction ofsaid conveyer, each of said main bodies being movable in a back andforth direction with respect to the other by a back and forth feedingdevice, and means for cooperating said main bodies and said conveyerrelative to the positions of said main bodies in such a manner that thewidth of said conveyer disposed between said main bodies is capable ofbeing expanded and contracted in the width direction in synchronism withback and forth movement of the main bodies.
 2. A panel bender forbending a work held between a depression die vertically moved by meansof a plurality of work holding cylinders fixed in alignment withinregular intervals on the upper portion of a main body of the panelbender, and a receiving die provided at the lower portion of the mainbody and fixed on a bed of the main body, with a downward bending dieand an upward bending die provided on a pivotal arm pivoted about asupport shaft by a vertical bending driving device provided on said mainbody for bending said work downwardly, wherein a plurality of such mainbodies are provided at opposite positions across a conveyer for feedingsaid work to a working position within the panel bender, each of saidmain bodies being movable in a back and forth direction with respect toa machine center by a back and forth feeding device, and means forcooperating each of said main bodies and a corresponding half of saidconveyer is provided for adjusting the position of a correspondinglateral edge of said conveyer associating with the positions of saidmain bodies in such a manner that the width of said corresponding halfof said conveyer disposed for each of said main bodies and said machinecenter is capable of being expanded and contracted in the widthdirection in cooperation with back and forth movement of the mainbodies.
 3. A panel bender comprising:a transporting means defining atransporting path for a work in a plate form extending across apredetermined working position, said transporting means transportingsaid work into and out from said working position, said transportingmeans including a first movable component positioned at a first lateraledge of said transporting path for movement toward and away from acenter of said transporting path and a second movable componentpositioned at a second lateral edge of said transporting path formovement toward and away from a center of said transporting path; apositioning means associated with said transporting means forpositioning said work at said working position; a first bendingmechanism provided at one transverse side of said transporting path atthe position corresponding to said working position, said first bendingmechanism being movable toward said working position in a first strokedetermined depending upon the transverse width of said work and adesired width of a first edge portion of the work to be bent; a secondbending mechanism provided at one transverse side of said transportingpath at the position corresponding to said working position, said secondbending mechanism being movable toward said working position in a secondstroke determined depending upon the transverse width of said work and adesired width of a second edge portion of the work to be bent; firstcooperating means for cooperating said first bending mechanism with saidfirst movable component of said transporting means so that said firstbending mechanism and said first movable component are moved relativetoward and away from the center of said transporting path in unison; andsaid cooperating means for cooperating said second bending mechanismwith said second movable component of said transporting means so thatsaid second bending mechanism and said second movable component aremoved relative toward and away from the center of said transporting pathin unison.
 4. A panel bender as set forth in claim 3, wherein saidtransporting means includes means for adjusting a transverse width ofsaid transporting path relative to the transverse position of at least arespective one of said first and second bending mechanisms.
 5. A panelbender as set forth in claim 4, wherein said transporting means includesa first path means defining a first half of said transporting pathpositioned adjacent said first bending mechanism and a second path meansdefining a second half of said transporting path positioned adjacentsaid second bending mechanism, said first path means and said secondpath means each having a variable transverse width depending upon therelative positions to a respectively corresponding one of said first andsecond bending mechanisms.
 6. A panel bender as set forth in claim 5,wherein said transporting means further includes means for defining afixed reference line extending in a transporting direction andtransversely positioned between said first path means and said secondpath means so that shifting outer edges of said first path means andsaid second path means toward and away from said reference line adjustthe transverse widths of said first and second halves of saidtransporting path.
 7. A panel bender comprising:a transporting meansdefining a transporting path for a work in a plate form extending acrossa predetermined working position, said transporting means transportingsaid work into and out from said working position, said transportingmeans including a first movable component positioned at a first lateraledge of said transporting path for movement toward and away from acenter of said transporting path and a second movable componentpositioned at a second lateral edge of said transporting path formovement toward and away from a center of said transporting path; apositioning means associated with said transporting means forpositioning said work at said working position; a first bendingmechanism provided at one transverse side of said transporting path atthe position corresponding to said working position, said first bendingmechanism being movable toward said working position in a first strokedetermined depending upon the transverse width of said work and adesired width of a first edge portion of the work to be bent; a secondbending mechanism provided at one transverse side of said transportingpath at the position corresponding to said working position, said secondbending mechanism being movable toward said working position in a secondstroke determined depending upon the transverse width of said work and adesired width of a second edge portion of the work to be bent; firstcooperating means for mechanically connecting said first bendingmechanism with said first movable component of said transporting meansso that said first bending mechanism and said first movable componentare moved relatively toward and away from the center of saidtransporting path in unison; and second cooperating means formechanically connecting said second bending mechanism with said secondmovable component of said transporting means so that said second bendingmechanism and said second movable component are moved relatively towardand away from the center of said transporting path in unison.
 8. A panelbender as set forth in claim 7, wherein said transporting means includesa first path means defining a first half of said transporting pathpositioned adjacent said first bending mechanism and a second path meansdefining a second half of said transporting path positioned adjacentsaid second bending mechanism, said first path means and said secondpath means each having a variable transverse width depending upon therelative positions to a respectively corresponding one of said first andsecond bending mechanisms.
 9. A panel bender as set forth in claim 8,wherein said transporting means further includes means for defining afixed reference line extending in a transporting direction andtransversely positioned between said first and second path means so thatouter edges of said first and second path means are shifted toward andaway from said reference line for adjusting the transverse widths ofsaid first and second halves of said transporting path.
 10. A panelbender for bending lateral edges of a panel form work transported alonga transporting path defined by means of a conveyer system having alateral dimension, comprising:means for stopping and holding said workat a working position; at first bending unit located at one side of saidtransporting path and movable relative to said working position forbending a first side lateral edge of said work into a predeterminedfirst configuration; a second bending unit located at the other side ofsaid transporting path and movable relative to said work position forbending a second side lateral edge of said work into a predeterminedsecond configuration; and means for cooperating said conveyer systemwith said first and second bending units in order to vary said lateraldimension of said conveyer system in synchronism with movement of saidfirst and second bending units.
 11. A panel bender for bending lateraledges of a panel form work comprising:a conveyer system for transportingsaid work along a transporting path, said conveyer system including aplurality of separated components movable in a lateral direction; meansfor stopping and holding said work at a working position; a firstbending unit located at one side of said transporting path and movablerelative to said working position for bending a first side lateral edgeof said work into a predetermined first configuration; a second bendingunit located at the other side of said transporting path and movablerelative to said work position for bending a second side lateral edge ofsaid work into a predetermined second configuration; and means forcausing lateral shifting of said components of said conveyer systemdepending upon lateral strokes of said first and second bending units inorder to vary the overall lateral dimension of said conveyer system foravoiding interference between said first and second bending units andsaid conveyer system.